No. The Lee Center Cooperative Playgroup is a parent-run program for children ages 1-4. The program focuses on providing social experiences for the child through spontaneous and directed play. The playgroup is designed to provide children with their first group experience outside the home. The emphasis is more recreational than educational, with children learning basic social skills while playing. It is the duty of all parents to maintain the classroom and to provide the children with a clean, safe, and stimulating environment.

What does co-oping mean? How many times do I need to work?

Each parent is scheduled to work 1/3 of the total session days per enrolled child and is assigned one of four duties on a rotating basis:

To coordinate an arts and craft activity;

To provide a nutritious snack;

To clean up the playroom; and

To lead a circle time segment.

In addition, parents are required to hold officer positions, attend membership meetings, and fulfill CPR, First Aid, and health certification.

What is the standard curriculum?

For the morning sessions, the following curriculum is followed:

9:30 am — Free Play

10:00 am — Circle Time

10:15 am — Snack Time

10:40 am — Arts and Craft Time

11:00 am — Indoor/Outdoor Physical Activity

For the afternoon sessions, the following curriculum is followed:

12:00 pm (3:00 pm) — Free Play

12:25 pm (3:30 pm) — Snack Time

12:50 pm (3:50 pm) — Circle Time

1:10 pm (4:10 pm) — Arts and Craft Time

1:30 pm (4:30 pm) — Indoor/Outdoor Physical Activity

How does drop-off work?

On a parent’s non-working day, parents may either choose to drop off their child or stay with their child. In this way, children can adjust to a group environment at their own pace.LCCP asks that parents complete all registration materials and that the child be able to walk competently before dropping-off.

How do I join?

Submit this LCCP Enrollment Form with a check for $10. Please submit the form several months in advance to be added to the waitlist. For more information, contact the membership coordinator at leecenterplaygroup (at) gmail.com.Please provide the membership coordinator with your full name, a contact phone number and email, your child’s full name and date of birth, and the names and ages of any infant siblings whom you plan to bring. If you have a preferred playgroup time, please note that as well.

How does the wait list work?

The membership coordinator adds names to the list in the order received. Priority is given to current members, siblings, alumni, and Arlington County residents. Spaces are offered by email to potential members throughout the year whenever they become available.

What does it cost?

$30 one-time fee for orientation and screening checks.Tuition per 12-week term (Fall, Spring, Summer) depends on the number of days per week: $25 for one day, $40 for two days.

Can I bring my other children?

Non-enrolled siblings may be brought to play sessions subject to certain conditions explained below. Permitting siblings to attend a play session is primarily aimed at infant siblings. Siblings routinely accompanying enrolled child(ren) to playgroup must be enrolled as soon as they are eligible for membership and space becomes available in the playgroup. (Routine attendance is attendance greater than 4 playgroups per term for groups that meet twice per week or 2 playgroups per term for groups that meet once per week). Older siblings should not attend play sessions unless absolutely necessary because the playroom is not suited to children over 3 years and older children may disrupt the play of the younger enrolled children. In any case, the playroom is licensed for the occupancy of 0-5 year olds only and siblings over 5 years old should never be brought to play sessions. Non-enrolled siblings may never be dropped off.If a parent must bring an older sibling (up to age 5), they must ensure that they are the only worker scheduled to have a sibling present that day AND there are no more than 15 kids total in the room AND the ratio of adults to children is at least 1:3. This should only occur in rare circumstances, such as when a scheduled worker is unexpectedly ill and there was not enough time to secure a replacement.Parents and caregivers should be aware that the playroom is not safe for crawling infants and that infants must be supervised closely and not permitted to crawl freely about the room. Parents who bring non-enrolled siblings to a play session do so at their own risk.

Can my nanny/au pair/caregiver bring my child?

A non-parent may bring the child to the play sessions. If the nanny/au pair/caregiver is going to perform one of the required duties, he/she must filled out the paperwork qualifying them to be a LCCP worker. In addition, only a family member can perform the responsibilities of Worker #1 (who has primary responsibility of the playgroup and leads the arts and craft activity).

What type of paperwork do I have to complete?

Among other things, parents must meet all Virginia and Arlington County day-care worker licensing requirements, including CPR and First Aid certifications, child protective services and criminal history background checks, and annual TB skin tests. Children must meet all day-care requirements, including a completed healthcare form and proof of immunizations.

When is a child not permitted to attend LCCP?

A child with a deep chest cough, an unexplained rash, communicable disease, and/or a fever within the past 24 hours is not permitted to attend LCCP. A child’s health must be such that he/she feels well enough to participate fully in all group activities.

Can other members provide medication to my child?

If your child needs medication during playgroup hours or has a special medical condition, please contact us at leecenterplaygroup (at) gmail.com to discuss the situation in further detail. There are state and local laws that we must follow as a licensed child care center.